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Sio signs new three-year contract with Australian Rugby

Emerging Qantas Wallabies prop Scott Sio has set his sights on a return to the game’s biggest stage after committing to Australian Rugby on a new three-year deal.

Sio, who made his Test debut against New Zealand in 2013, was one of the standout performers for the Wallabies at last year’s Rugby World Cup in England and under his new contract will remain in Australian Rugby until the end of 2019.

The 24-year old from Sydney’s west has also committed his long-term future to the Brumbies, where he has already surpassed the 50-game milestone after first appearing for the ACT-based outfit in 2012.

The Australian U20 and Australian Schoolboys representative has now played 16 Tests for the Qantas Wallabies, including a run-on start in the Rugby World Cup Final, and has emerged as one of the most promising front-rowers in the game.

Sio completed a remarkable rise to the top level of the game, playing in an Asteron Life Super Rugby Final before making his Test debut in his first full year of professional Rugby. Just over two years later, the son of former Samoan Test prop David Sio was running out onto Twickenham for a Rugby World Cup Final against the All Blacks with a gold number one jersey on his back.

Sio said: “I couldn’t be happier to have my future sorted here in Australia and to be staying with the Brumbies. Since I first moved to Canberra from Sydney, I’ve always felt like the culture and the playing group was something special down here.

“Our front row is incredibly competitive and supportive and we pride ourselves on our performance as a group every week.”

The 115kg prop said he was hoping to cement his place in the Wallabies front row after adding 11 Test appearances in a breakthrough international season in 2015.

“The World Cup was an amazing experience and is obviously the biggest stage in the game, so to get back there in three years’ time is a huge personal goal.

“We were beaten by a better team on the day in the Final, but the whole experience of the World Cup will hold us in good stead for the future. The boys are really hungry to build on that tournament and it’s a massive year with England coming to Australia, the Rugby Championship and a Grand Slam tour at the end of the year.

Firstly, I’ve got to play at a consistently high level for the Brumbies and will hopefully get another opportunity to wear that gold jersey.”